Verbatim: Sep. 25, 2006

"Show me just what Muhammad brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." POPE BENEDICT XVI, quoting the 14th century Byzantine Emperor Manuel II Paleologus during a lecture in Germany

"The Holy Father is very sorry that some passages of his speech may have sounded offensive to the sensibilities of Muslim believers." VATICAN SECRETARY OF STATE TARCISIO BERTONE, reading a statement of apology after the Pope's remarks sparked a worldwide furor

"The world is beginning to doubt the moral basis of our fight against terrorism." FORMER U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE COLIN POWELL, in a letter to Senator John McCain opposing a White House proposal that would allow harsher treatment of terrorist suspects

"We have made a new beginning." RABBI WALTER JACOB, who last week ordained three rabbis in Germany--the first to be ordained in that country since the Holocaust

"We want them to know that violence is not sexy." JENNIFER BAYER, girlfriend of a gang member in crime-ridden Pereira, Colombia, where wives and girlfriends of gang members are giving up sex in what they call the "strike of crossed legs" until their husbands and boyfriends give up their guns

For more quotes of the week, visit time.com/quotes Sources: AP; BBC; New York Times (2); BBC